One of the great things about being a part-time teacher is the opportunity I have to persue my interests. As you will have gathered, learning about the forest is certainly on my life-long learning trajectory so yesterday I decided to put together a variation on one my regular walks, the one which starts at Hippo-Droom in Groenendaal and looks at horse-racing remains and religious relics. So, I have put together a longer itinery which takes in most of the former walk, but now includes the Shrine of the Sweet Smelling Lady and a monument to two war-time aviators who risked their lives to take German defensive plans to England in 1941.
Only recently has the underpass been reopened to allow access to the otherside of the Ring to allow the route to continue on the eastern side, down into the valley of Ijse river and then back under the Ring to the former racecourse and onto the site and remains of the abbey.
It's about 2h 45 in length, but with little challenging gradient. I think you're going to enjoy this one and I'm planning the first outing on Saturday 3rd May at 14:00. Details are on the Calendar page as are a couple of evening walks to see bluebells (not just!) in the forest between the Chaussée de Waterloo and the Groenendaal lakes. Oh, and the forest's oldest tree.